Hormone Treatment for Low Sex Drive

Hormone treatment can help people with hypogonadism to improve their sex lives. Hypogonadism occurs when your body fails to produce enough sex hormones. It is an issue that can affect men and women from their teenage years all the way into adulthood.

The result of not producing enough sex hormones is reduced libido or sex drive. The primary male sex hormone is testosterone. It is produced in the testes, and men with low testosterone levels typically report being less interested in sex.

Estrogen is the primary sex hormone for women. It is produced in the ovaries, along with progesterone and small amounts of testosterone. Women with hypogonadism typically have low levels of progesterone and estrogen.

Getting hormone treatment for low sex drive

There are two glands in the brain that send signals to the sex glands to make more sex hormones: the pituitary and hypothalamus. However, when a person has hypogonadism, an issue in the sex glands or brain interferes with the production of sex hormones.

A person has primary hypogonadism when a problem with their sex glands stops the production of hormones, and secondary hypogonadism occurs when an issue with the brain signals hinders the production of sex hormones.

Testosterone and estrogen levels start to drop as a person enters their late 40s. This lowers their sex drive, but it does not necessarily mean they have hypogonadism. These changes are a normal part of life, but a younger person who has no interest in sex might have hypogonadism.

Low sex drive can also be a symptom of various health issues and treatments like:

• Diabetes and other endocrine disorders
• Genetic disorders like Turner syndrome
• Hemochromatosis (excess iron)
• Surgical procedures on reproductive organs
• Undescended testicles
• Cancer treatments
• Kidney or liver disease
• Brain surgery
• Infections like HIV
• Opioid or steroid use
• Obesity

Teenagers with hypogonadism typically do not enter puberty on time. A boy might have underdeveloped testicles and not grow facial hair, while a girl might not develop breasts or start her period.

The main symptom of hypogonadism in adults is decreased or no sex drive. Other symptoms include hot flashes, hair loss, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, nipple discharge, erectile dysfunction, enlarged breasts in males, and muscle loss.

The process

Low sex drive is typically diagnosed by going over the patient’s symptoms and performing a physical examination. A pelvic exam might also be used to make a diagnosis.

Depending on the physician’s findings, other tests like blood tests, imaging tests, and semen analysis might be used to evaluate the patient’s hormone levels. Treatments that might be recommended once tests show a patient’s hormone levels are abnormally low include:

Testosterone replacement therapy

Hormone treatment is typically recommended for men with abnormally low levels of testosterone. These patients typically experience symptoms like difficulty concentrating and low sex drive. The treatment aims to raise the patient’s testosterone to healthy levels. Women with low sex drive can also benefit from testosterone replacement therapy.

Testosterone therapy is typically not recommended if a man’s low testosterone is due to aging or he does not show any symptoms of low testosterone. Some of the ways testosterone replacement therapy can be administered include:

• Skin patch: This involves applying a skin patch to the upper body or arm once a day
• Gels: Testosterone also comes in a gel form that is absorbed by the skin. The gel is applied to a part of the body once a day
• Mouth patch: This is a tablet that sticks to the upper part of the gums. It slowly releases testosterone into the blood via tissue in the mouth. It typically needs to be applied twice a day
• Implants and injections: Testosterone comes in pellet form that can be implanted in tissues. It can also be injected directly into muscles
• Oral testosterone: This is rarely used nowadays since taking testosterone orally puts the liver at risk. The other methods discussed above bypass the liver and get testosterone directly into the body

Estrogen replacement therapy

Estrogen therapy helps women who are menopausal and those with low sex drive. Estrogen is the main female sex hormone, and its production slows down as a woman ages. This can reduce her desire to have intercourse and lead to physical symptoms that hinder intercourse, like vaginal dryness.

Estrogen replacement therapy often includes progesterone as well, depending on the patient’s symptoms. Estrogen and progesterone can be delivered using similar methods to those used for testosterone. There are also low-dose vaginal products that can be used.

Restore your sex drive

Low sex drive can have a significant impact on your relationships. Seeking alternative medicine from a wellness center may not have produced the results you hoped. Give us a call or stop by our Fresno clinic to get the hormone treatment help you need.

Request an appointment here: https://omgwellnessmd.com or call Optimal Medical Group at (559) 425-1118 for an appointment in our Fresno office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.